Things to do in and near Las Vegas Archives | Jeff Howard's Las Vegas Area Real Estate blog

The Year of the Tiger – Chinese New Year festivities around Las Vegas

Another Lunar New Year has come and this year we honor the year of the Tiger. What should we expect this year?

The tiger embodies courage and bravery, so the new year could symbolize resilience and strength — even in times of struggle, scholar Jonathan H.X. Lee said. … The holiday, which is observed by primarily East Asian countries and Vietnam, in addition to their diasporas, ushers in the Year of the Tiger. The animal, one of a dozen in the Chinese zodiac, is considered a positive sign, often associated with the defeat of evil.

Collectively we have been living in the shadows of a great evil, the pandemic,” Lee said. “And I think 2022, the Year of the Tiger, will be a year when there will be movement towards driving out that evil.

To celebrate the coming year there are many places that have activities going on. Traditionally, a dragon parade and carnival procession take place in the city as well. The main venue for the celebration is Fremont Street. Restaurants abound with various Chinese dishes. People wish each other wealth, health, and good luck.

Another excellent thing to do during Chinese New Year festivities is visiting Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which hosts a vibrant seasonal display from mid-January through early March.

Downtown Summerlin has had a parade on February 1, The property celebrates the Year of the Tiger from Feb. 1-15 with festive décor throughout its common areas. Highlights include picture-prefect oversized 2022 letters in the Macy’s Promenade, a larger-than-life Chinese dragon partially submerged in the water feature at the Dining Arroyo, and a photo wall filled with festive décor located in the hallway near H&M.

Downtown Summerlin also will host a red envelope giveaway through the Summerlin app from Feb. 1-15. Guests have an opportunity to receive a complimentary red envelope filled with chocolate coins and surprise gift cards while supplies last. Redemptions take place at Concierge, located in the Breezeway of the ONE Summerlin office building.

Resort Las Vegas for 11th Annual Chinese New Year in the Desert™ taking place at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb 3: 12pm – 1pm.

Saturday, February 5 at the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip, you will find a captivating Lunar New Year exhibition, with immersive décor throughout the center and a parade at 2:00 pm.

There are many other events going on in a lot of the hotels with beautiful displays that honor the Lunar New Year. Feel free to walk around and take in the festivities!

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you want 3 cash offers? We can help you with all of that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

2022 Pro Bowl is headed to Las Vegas for the very first time!

The star-studded Pro Bowl event will take place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium on February 6^th,2022 at 12:00 PM PT. Fans can visit ProBowl.com to purchase tickets. Las Vegas is sure to be the best venue for all the pre-bowl events.

This year, tickets will also allow fans special benefits on gameday including access to the Pro Bowl Red Carpet and other family friendly activities. The 2022 Pro Bowl presented by Verizon.

This game will be televised on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ABC at 12:00 PM PT

Leading up to the game, the NFL will host a series of Pro Bowl Week festivities, bringing free experiences and activities to fans in Las Vegas. A number of events will also be focused on celebrating football at all levels. Pro Bowl Week festivities will include –

Pro Bowl Practice
Play Football Opening Night
NFL FLAG Championships
East-West Shrine Bowl – televised on NFL Network
Pro Bowl Skills Showdown – televised on ESPN
Community Day

Player selections will be determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote counting as one-third toward determining the All-Star players who will be selected to this year’s Pro Bowl. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its Pro Bowl teams. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on Friday, December 17.

More details around how fans can get involved with Pro Bowl Week festivities will be announced.

Purchase tickets so you can join in on an exciting week of activities for fans of all ages to experience the NFL. As it gets closer to the event, there will be continued updates on the https://www.allegiantstadium.com/events/detail/2022-pro-bowl website with additional details about Pro Bowl practice, fan experiences, and ways to get in on the Pro Bowl action – in Las Vegas and virtually

Also, the East-West Shrine Bowl, America’s longest-running college football all-star game, which supports Shriners Children’s Hospital will be played on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium, as part of NFL Pro Bowl week and will be televised nationally on NFL Network. For more information on the East West Shrine Bowl, and to purchase tickets. please click HERE.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in Las Vegas

The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit has been thrilling people for months at the once-in-a-lifetime exhibit. I went to see the exhibit and was immediately impressed on how I was drawn into the paintings.

The work of Vincent Van Gogh is all around you – one painting at a time. The painting is even underneath you, which gives you the feeling of being part of the actual painting that you are looking at. The paintings slowly morph from one to another and you can see how the leaves and flowers come to be, as well as the buildings and the people featured.

All of this has great background music which changes as the periods of Van Gogh’s work evolves. You see some of his most famous pieces like A Starry Night, Irises, Self Portrait, Wheatfields with Crows and Bedroom in Arles among many more.

To help reimagine this massive venue, Immersive Van Gogh has joined forces with Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated designer David Korins , known for his set design of countless Broadway hits including Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen.

As Creative Director, Korins uses his infinite creativity to incorporate ingenious interior design, high-tech activations, and new experiential elements to the venue for a unique experience only available to Las Vegas, Nevada.

The location of the immersive exhibit is at the Shops at Crystals adjacent to ARIA Resort & Casino, at 3720 S Las Vegas Blvd.

For tickets go to https://tickets.vangoghvegas.com/#/audiences . They are currently 30 percent off the original price. While you are there you can purchase gifts for loved ones including yourself.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

The Year of the Rat – Chinese New Year Celebrations Around Las Vegas

January 25 is the start of the Lunar or Chinese New Year (running through February 8) celebrations and of course Las Vegas has many different venues enjoying revelry for the occasion. Each year the Bellagio Conservatory has a spectacular display for the Lunar New Year and this year is no exception. This exhibit is already open for viewing and it runs through March 7.

The Fashion Show Mall has Chinese New Year at Great Hall. There will be a Lantern Garden Light Show, everyday at 2, 6 & 8pm January 25- February 8^th. On January 26^th there will be a Chinese New Year Celebration at 2pm. Experience the vibrant traditions of Chinese New Year with a cultural performance of a lifetime. Walk through the history and beauty of Chinese New Year through dragons, lions, modern & traditional dances, lantern garden & much more! On February 1 the Fashion Show Mall will present East Meets West Runway Show 11:30 am, 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

Downtown Las Vegas Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020: Parade Downtown Las Vegas Main Street 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The Vegas Golden Knights return as the Title Parade Sponsor for the 2nd year. Chance, the team mascot, and the team’s drumline, the Knight Line will officially kick off the Spring Festival Parade. The parade features colorful costumes and talented performers and has become a Las Vegas tradition. The parade begins at Utah Street/Main Street and goes North on Main Street to California Street and then you can move on to the Parade-After Party in The Arts District until 2 p.m. The family-friendly celebration will include lion dances, a youth hockey clinic by the Vegas Golden Knights, martial arts demonstrations, traditional Chinese music performances and folk dances. Children can make lanterns, crane origami and free t-shirts in the craft area throughout the day. All entertainment is free and open to the public.

Downtown Summerlin will have the third annual Lunar New Year celebration for the Year of the Rat at Downtown Summerlin on Saturday, January 25^th, 2020 at 6 p.m. Enjoy a festive dragon & lion dance with percussion ensemble in partnership with Guan Strong Lion Arts Association, traditional fan dancers, stilt-walkers and lucky red envelopes filled with gift cards* and more! The parade will start on Park Centre Drive – near Champs and will end in front of H&M.

All these events are free to the public.

Each year I try to remember my lunar sign and then I look it up and get it wrong. I always think I’m in the year of the Monkey; however, my birthday is in January and before the lunar New Year that year, so I was actually born in the year of the Goat, which is the eighth of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. Goat and Deer set off together, but they needed to cross a river. There were no boats available, so they had to swim across. The Deer couldn’t take it and gave up. Goat struggled on by himself and finally made it to the party as eighth place. That sounds like me! I hate to miss a great party!

Want to look up your sign – click here https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/

Caution: the Chinese New Year moves between 21 January and 20 February, so if your birthday falls between those dates you may have to look it up to check. Just google “when did lunar new year begin in xxxx”. And if you were born between January 1 & January 20, then your Chinese Zodiac animal will be the one listed for the year before you were born…

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

6 Great things to do with the Family between Christmas and New Years in Las Vegas

So the kids are on holiday break and you might have family or friends visiting – what is there to do in Las Vegas during the 6 days between Christmas and New Years? There are many activities that can keep everyone busy. Here are a few ideas to help you make plans for every day over the holidays this year.

The Las Vegas Christmas Town is billed as “A holiday experience for all ages.” It’s located at the Cowabunga Bay Waterpark and admission is $25 per person. This festive event runs through December 31st, it’s a wonderful way to pass the time in between Christmas and New Years. Take the Polar Express Train Ride, play Yuletide Laser Tag, visit Santa’s Cozy Cottage and much more at this family-friendly attraction.
One of the best things to do in Las Vegas is to explore the beauty of the Las Vegas area. The surrounding nature is truly spectacular if you know where to go, and everyone can benefit from a quick escape from the Strip. Take a ride to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, Zion National Park (weather permitting) and you can even go see the Grand Canyon.
Why not visit an escape room? The Trapped! Escape Room Las Vegas features a completely unique experience and it’s conveniently located right off the strip. You and your group can choose from three different puzzles. Then, you get locked in the room and must solve the mystery to escape before time runs out! Push your creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork to the limits in the room of your choice, and then come back to try the rest!
The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village is one of the most festive attractions in Las Vegas. This family-friendly event “is a winter wonderland with millions of sparkling lights, nightly entertainment, great food and endless holiday cheer.” Open from November 23 to December 31, it’s a perfect place to visit between Christmas and New Years in the Vegas Valley.
The Bellagio Fountains are one of the most popular free attractions in Las Vegas. Stop by every thirty minutes to catch the daily shows and you’ll quickly understand why: the water is choreographed with music and lights and soars up to 460 feet in the air. After looking at the water go inside the hotel and see the magnificent holiday display that has horses and polar bears, Santa’s chalet and all sorts of presents – all made of millions of flowers. It is really breathtaking.
Go Ice Skating -The ice rink at The Cosmopolitan is a perfect thing to do in between Christmas and New Years. Every year “The Cosmopolitan transforms into a winter wonderland high above The Las Vegas Strip.” It’s the only outdoor rink in the city and with s’mores, open fires, and even the occasional snowfall, a visit to The Cosmopolitan should not be missed during the holiday season. If you want to avoid the Strip – there is the Rock Rink in Downtown Summerlin. After skating you can find lots of restaurants and retail stores to add another gift or two that Santa might have missed.
Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you want 3 cash offers? We can help you with all of that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Day Tripping – Part Two

Last week I suggested some fun and interesting day trips to destinations around Las Vegas, and still in Nevada – well here are a few days trips that are across the California state line, and are certainly worth visiting (some you might even want to stay overnight in).

Pioneertown – It’s less than four hours from Las Vegas and has an interesting past. In 1946, Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors, including actors Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. They dreamed of creating an Old West set 125 miles east of Los Angeles that was actually a town worth visiting. The town has 1880s-style false-front facades as well as interiors with things for visitors to see and do.

From the outside there are frontier stables, saloons, and jails; inside, they house ice cream parlors, bowling alleys, and motels. It wasn’t a place just for tourists to enjoy though; more than 50 films and television shows were filmed here in the 1940s and ‘50s. Recently the town has been experiencing something of a renaissance—artists, entrepreneurs, and just regular folks looking to escape city stress are finding their way here. Longtime standby the Pioneertown Motel, a rustic, single-story 20-room inn, has been updated with fire pits, an outdoor bar, and hammocks; it and La Copine, an upscale eatery in nearby Flamingo Heights are contributing to the area’s newfound reputation as a hip getaway. https://www.visitcalifornia.com/attraction/pioneertown

Big Bear Lake– This is Southern California’s four-season mountain lake escape. Located in the heart of Southern California – and close to Las Vegas it around a 3 ½ hour drive – Big Bear Lake is the jewel of the San Bernardino National Forest and known for excellent fishing, snowboarding & skiing, hiking, mountain biking and so much more!

During any season, a drive to Big Bear Lake through the San Bernardino National Forest is a wonderful experience. There are winding roads that cascade through hills that become mountains with amazing views of the California basin. You arrive in a destination that’s totally unique and different from the bustling cities below Big Bear Lake. Wood-carved sculptures line the streets, the smell of fresh pine and clean air permeates, and a town decorated in rustic cabins and lodges welcomes your arrival. https://www.bigbear.com

Death Valley – It’s about a 2 ½ hour drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley and now is the time to go – not too hot (never go in the summer). Death Valley is a national park located, east of the Sierra Mountains and bordering the state of Nevada. Death Valley has been the home for many Indigenous people dating back to even 10,000 years ago! Many of these groups (like the Timbisha Shoshone group) were hunters and gatherers that would make winter camps on the valley floor and escape up to the nearby mountains when the weather started heating up.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Gold Rush hopefuls and miners came flocking to the area in hopes of gaining riches off of precious gems. Now Death Valley has some very interesting spots for you to check out – Scotty’s Castle, The Oasis at Death Valley, Furnace Creek, with the park visitor center, as well as campgrounds, restaurants, a store, gas station, and the Furnace Creek Resort, Panamint Springs, and so many incredible sand dunes etc. Check out the web site – https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

Lake Arrowhead – Located a mile high in the heart of the San Bernardino National Forest, Lake Arrowhead Village is 3 ¾ hours Las Vegas. With 4 distinct seasons, any time during the year is a great time to visit. Love the snow? They have it for you from December through March. April and May brings daffodils and dogwoods to the village. From June thru August you’ll find perfect summer weather. Put on your favorite fall sweater and enjoy our fall foliage September thru November. https://lakearrowhead.com

Joshua Tree – Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in Southern California that is around a three hour drive from Las Vegas. It’s characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

Calico Ghost Town – Calico is an old West mining town that has been around since 1881 during the largest silver strike in California. With its 500 mines, Calico produced over $20 million in silver ore over a 12-year span. When silver lost its value in the mid-1890, Calico lost its population. Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950’s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880’s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town. https://www.calicoattractions.com/

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail space? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Fun and Interesting Day Trips from Las Vegas – Part One

Now that the summer heat has left us it’s time to wander around the area beyond the borders of Las Vegas and see some amazing places that are near enough for a day trip.

Oh dear – you have lived here for years and you haven’t driven through Red Rock Canyon? Red Rock Canyon features a one-way 13-mile scenic drive, hiking and trails, plants and wildlife, geology, camping, cultural resources and much more. Our Visitor Center offers information and interpretation about recreation opportunities. The facility also features indoor and outdoor exhibits and a book and gift store.

The fee per day is $15 for one truck or car. (or buy a National Park Annual Pass for $80 and go as often as you like plus gain entry in such amazing places as Lake Mead, Cedar Breaks, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Yosemite & more!)

The Valley of Fire is incredible. It is a State Park for public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly 46,000 acres located 16 miles south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago and contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. A Visitor Center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park and nearby region

Entrance fee is $10

Mount Charleston is a great place to visit now with the trees turning colors, in the summer to get relief from the heat and in the winter to ski. Named for nearby Mount Charleston, the highest point in Clark County, the town is in a valley of the Spring Mountains to the northwest of Las Vegas, noted for its hiking trails, and for the Mount Charleston Lodge, a rustic hotel. At an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet, temperatures are much lower than in Las Vegas, which has an elevation of about 2,000 feet, making it a popular place for Las Vegans to vacation. The mean high temperature is 20.4 degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler than in Las Vegas.

Goodsprings (Ghost Town) was a settlement in the hills seven miles west of Jean. It served as an important town for milling or from the surrounding mines. The town has named after a Mr. Joseph Good who headquartered his cattle raising operation there. At first the site was known as Good’s Springs but eventually was called Goodsprings. It was a mining camp with a hotel, a saloon that is still standing and in operation, and a general store. Make sure you go to the Pioneer Saloon and the general store!

Nelson (Ghost Town) was first called Eldorado by the Spaniards who made the original discoveries of gold in the area. A hundred years later prospectors and miners took over and established the notorious Techatticup Mine. Disagreements over ownership, management and labor disputes resulted in frequent killings. Today, you’ll find several old buildings, cars, trucks, buses and 2 crashed airplanes, making it a great spot to explore and take fun photos. I took my son’s HS graduation pics in a tired old pink Cadillac! Make sure you go to the general store!

Boulder City, Nevada is quite a great little town. Very close to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. The town is quaint with interesting shops of all kinds, and interesting restaurants and bars. Here is a link that can tell you the 10 best things to do https://trip101.com/article/best-things-to-do-boulder-city-nevada

In the near future, I will be putting together other interesting spots to visit in part two – you won’t want to miss that.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Do you love the Vegas Golden Knights too? Wanna road trip to see them play in L.A.?

Are you up for an affordable adventure? If you didn’t know, I am a VGK fan and I have season tickets. Last year, the last regular season game they played was on the road against the Kings and it was the same day as my son’s senior prom. My son didn’t have a date for the prom and he was kind of bummed so I suggested we drive to L.A. for the game, which we did! We arrived, downtown, about 1/2 hour before they dropped the first puck. When the game was over, we drove home, trading drivers every 30 minutes, so we would stay awake. The whole experience was a ton of fun… and part of the adventure (in our opinion) was doing the whole thing in less than 24 hours… so this year I put together a bus trip for 56 VGK fans.

The bus will leave from a parking lot just outside of Summerlin (Fort Apache & Sahara) at 10 AM on Saturday November 16th, and drive 56 fans to downtown L.A. – we should arrive around 3 PM, which will give everyone time to explore the area on your own and be in your seats for the puck drop at 7 PM.

45 minutes after the game ends, the bus will drive us all back to where it picked us up from. Wanna go with us? For only $165 each, you can join us in section 206 for the game… we’ll be sitting in the lower bowl on the side where the Knights attack twice, and if you tried to buy similar seats online at T-Mobile arena here in Las Vegas for a game, they typically cost $200-$250.

What will you do between when the bus drops you off and when the game begins? There is plenty to explore… the Fashion District, the Jewelry District, great restaurants, & more (just Google “Top 10 things to do in downtown LA”).

So, are you up for it? To secure your seat on the bus call 702 SELL NOW (702-735-5669). Options for payment include, check, cash, Zelle or Venmo.

Choose to have an amazing day…..Jeff

Friday Night Live – concert series in the Trails Park in Summerlin

The Summerlin Council presents the return of the fantastic “Friday Night Live” summer concert series. You can bring your own food and drink and a blanket on Friday June 7, and head over to the Trails Park, 1910 Spring Gate Lane, Las Vegas Nevada 89134. You will enjoy live musical experiences and performances that are guaranteed to get up on your feet and “Dance to the Music.” And to top that off – – – it’s free!!!!!

The concert series gives you the opportunity to socialize with friends and neighbors in Summerlin and maybe even get to know other people from this incredible community. My family goes to at least one of these free concerts every summer! Be prepared for a wonderful night of fun as the bands play fun music that you know, and you can dance on the basketball court in front of the stage beneath the summer stars.

The popular live show kicks off with ’80s revival band “Loveshack”, which has been voted Best of Las Vegas in the Las Vegas Review-Journal readers poll several times. The show starts at 7 p.m. however I suggest you get there a little earlier that that to find a place on the lawn for your blanket.

The second concert of the series happens on August 9 with “Yellow Brick Road” scheduled to perform and the third is September 6 with “Boogie Knights” on the schedule.

Originating in 1997 The Summerlin Council is the owner and operator of the Trails, Willows, Gardens and Vistas Community Centers, Willows Pool, Trails Pool, Vistas Pool, Summerlin Tennis Club and the community’s major parks and amenities.

Additionally the Council plans more than a dozen annual events, offers more than 150 community classes and youth camps, and prepares and distributes monthly and quarterly publications to the residents. According to Tom Warden, vice president of community and government relations for The Howard Hughes Corporation, “The Summerlin Council is the heart of the community and is responsible, in large part, for the quality of life for which the community is known.”

Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail space? We can help you with that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Death Valley is expanding…….land bill added over 35,000 acres to the National Park

Did you know that Death Valley is only 100 miles west of Las Vegas? I know you wouldn’t want to go there in the summer; however it is nice to go see at other times of the year and take in the beauty of the park.

A major lands bill was approved by Congress last week and part of this bill is to add over 35,000 acres to Death Valley National Park that presently is 3.4 million acres. In 1849 a party of pioneers taking a shortcut to the goldfields of California stumbled into what is known now as Death Valley. The pioneers were desperate for water, and they too found salvation in the springs at Furnace Creek – one of the few areas in the park that has civilization.

Before the pioneers, the Timbisha Shoshone Indians lived in the valley for centuries. They hunted and followed seasonal migrations for harvesting of pinyon pine nuts and mesquite beans with their families. To them, the land provided everything they needed and many areas were, and are, considered to be sacred places.

Over the years from the mid to late 1800’s many distinct groups of miners and settlers came through Death Valley – for more information click on this link https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

Presently you can explore this national park however it is advised to go on a guided tour. There are also several hotels and other lodging in Death Valley. The Stovepipe Wells Village concession offers resort accommodations and limited recreational vehicle camping with full hookups in the Stovepipe Wells area. The Inn at Death Valley is a privately-owned historic inn that provides first class resort accommodations in the Furnace Creek area. There is also the Ranch at Death Valley (formerly Furnace Creek Ranch) that currently is undergoing extensive remodeling. The private Panamint Springs Resort offers resort accommodations and camping. There is also Scotty’s Castle that is closed until 2020 due to extensive flooding in the Grapevine Canyon from a severe thunderstorm that has destroyed the road to Scotty’s Castle and caused damage to buildings in this area.

There are many camp grounds available if you like to “rough it”. There are also many places to eat from fine dining in the hotels to more casual eating spots and a few general stores where you can get a sandwich and supplies.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff